What is IMPACT1?

In late 2016, while attending the Inc. 5000 conference, Transportation Impact’s Vice President of Sales Berkley Stafford heard Tony Robbins speak about how a company was giving back to the community by donating both time and resources. Excited by how this concept would be a perfect fit for TI’s ethos of philanthropy, Berkley took the idea home with him to Emerald Isle.

From this seed germinated IMPACT1 — Improvements Made by People ACTing as 1 — a pledge to provide 1% in goodwill services, 1% of employee time, and 1% of company profit to the community.

“One of our founding principles is to give back to our community,” says Co-founder Keith Byrd. “We also want our people to have that feeling of giving back, and IMPACT1 is a perfect way to do that.”

Each employee has 20 hours of paid time each year to use in volunteering, half for a company-sponsored charity and half for a charity of their choice. This time spent working to help others has had a profound effect not only on the recipients, but also on the employees themselves.

“IMPACT1 means not isolating ourselves from the surrounding community,” says Wesley Hitson, Programmer. “I enjoy looking for volunteer opportunities with different organizations in the area. It allows me to get a sense for the work that others are doing and affords me the opportunity to help other people in varying ways. It makes me proud to say that I work for a company that gives back so generously.”

In its first year, IMPACT1 has provided more than $150,000 in tangible, targeted, life-altering support to the community of Emerald Isle and surrounding communities. It is also inspiring other local business owners to create their own IMPACT1-style programs.

For all involved, the rewards of giving are great. To see the positive changes that your time, effort, and financial contributions bring about in people’s lives gives greater meaning to the work you do when you return to the office. As Partner Development Supervisor Leslie Sutton describes it: “It’s the happiness effect that takes over everyone involved — those receiving but also those giving can’t help but smile.”

1% Goodwill

Got a request?

If you would like to be considered as an IMPACT1 recipient, please fill out the form below. Donation requests are reviewed on a monthly basis, and to be considered, requests must be submitted at least 5-7 weeks prior to the event.

A confirmation email will be sent to you within 24 hours, so please include a valid email address and contact information. Only approved requests will receive further communication after this initial confirmation email.

Due to the high volume of requests received, we are unable to confirm the status of requests or receipt of requests by telephone. Although we are honored to receive many charitable requests, unfortunately we are unable to support them all.